College Hockey:

If it hadn’t have been for Massachusetts-Boston, I wouldn’t have picked one winner last week, as I went 1-2-2 (.400), to move to 4-4-2 on the year (.500). Let’s see if I can improve.

Here are my picks for the upcoming weekend and Tuesday bonus games heading into the Thanksgiving holidays:

Friday, November 16, 2012

Castleton at Massachusetts-Boston

This is not the start that Alex Todd looked for from the Spartans, who now face a young and hungry Beacons team. Experience has to be worth something at some point, and the physical part of the game seems to favor the visitors. This one is very close, and special teams are the difference. Castleton 4-3

Norwich at St. Anselm The Hawks are off to a good start, and are looking for a statement game at home to prove they are contenders in the conference. Slowing down the Cadets offense will be a challenge for goaltender Robert Kang and company. The Hawks are contenders, but have a little ways to go to topple Norwich. Norwich 5-3

Southern Maine at University of New England The travel partner games are always intriguing match-ups. Both teams are still figuring things out, especially in terms of consistency. The Huskies are coming off a split last weekend and a strong game last Saturday to build off. Southern Maine 4-2

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Castleton at Babson The Beavers really don’t want to be looking up at the rest of the teams in the conference, and this weekend’s points get them in the hunt with the rest of the teams. The Spartans have not shown consistency, and Babson takes advantage of home ice to take the much-needed two points. Babson 3-2

Skidmore at Massachusetts-Boston Most of the Mass.-Boston players are new, but the there are many who remember falling to the Thoroughbreds three times last season, including the playoffs. Revenge games are motivating, and the Beacons need this one after a tough loss on Friday to Castleton. Massachusetts-Boston 4-3

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

SUNY-Canton at St. Michael’s Congrats to coach Damien DiGiulian, who captured his first victory last weekend in the ECAC East. This nonconference game against the independent Kangaroos provides a strong opportunity for the Purple Knights to get another confidence-boosting win. Home team advantage enhanced in the mid-week match-ups. St. Michael’s 4-1

Framingham State at Massachusetts-Boston It’s the annual match-up of two teams that have played each other for a long time in a rivalry that has continued on despite changing league alliances. The Beacons continue their on-the-job training and use a full 60=minute effort to win this one. Mass-Boston 5-2

The early season drama is definitely exciting for the fans and causing heartburn for coaches — drop the puck!

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Tim Costello joined USCHO as a correspondent in 2003. A former collegiate goaltender, he has covered Division II and Division III conferences in New England for the past 11 seasons and provided additional features spanning Division I and other special interest stories.